Apparatus for longitudinal feeding and laying of flexible strands



June 1961 R. c. JACKSON ETAI. 2,986,781

APPARATUS FOR LONGITUDINAL FEEDING AND LAYING OF FLEXIBLE STRANDS Filed Aug. 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F l G. INVENTORS OBERT C. JA CK SON HENRY E HAIGLER ,JMW.TW

ATTORNEY June 6, 1961 2,986,781

R. C. JACKSON ET AL APPARATUS FOR LONGITUDINAL FEEDING AND LAYING OF FLEXIBLE STRANDS Filed Aug. 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ROBERT C. JA CKSONi BY HENRY E7 HAIGLER Judm "rm V ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,986,781 APPARATUS FOR LON GITUDENAL FEEDING AND LAYING 0F FLEXIBLE STRANDS Robert C. Jackson, Pensacola, Fla., and Henry E. Haigler,

Decatur, Ala., assignors to The Chemstrand Corporation, Decatur, Ala., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 835,733 '8 Claims. (Cl. 19--161) This invention relates to an apparatus for longitudinally feeding flexible strands having indefinite lengths by means of plural endless webs, belts, bands, or the like and for laying said strands in regular plaits or relatively flat folds in a container therefor. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus for longitudinally feeding strands of relatively narrow flexible materials of indefinite lengths by means of two endless webs, belts, bands, or the like adapted for contra-directional rotation in a contiguous relation and for laying said strands in uniform superimposed and juxtaposed plaits or flat folds in a container therefor.

Throughout the instant specification and claims the term stran is intended to include thread, yarn, sliver, filament, tow, fibers or filamentary bundle and the like that are relatively narrow and flexible, and especially to include a large number of continuous filaments collected in loose rope-like form with or without definite twist therein.

In the textile industry, strands obtained by various processes are commonly placed or laid into containers such as boxes, cartons, etc., used for holding and for temporary storage of the strands and from which the strands are subsequently removed. In such laying operations, it is necessary to employ some means for placing the strands into the container in such a manner that the strands can be easily removed therefrom without entanglernent thereof. To this end the strands are laid in smooth regular plaits or flat folds superimposed on each other until the container is filled as completely as desired. Various devices for plaiting or folding of strands heretofore have been proposed for accomplishing this. The known plaiting devices having plural endless conveyors rotatable in contra-directional and contiguous relation have rigid and substantially unyielding gripping or nipping points. The nip formed by these known plaiting devices exert in many cases a pressure on the traveling strands such that the strands are undesirably flattened and some times deformed. While such plaiting devices may be suitable for transferring strands of uniform compactness, they are not suitable for feeding strands having thick and thin portions. Sometimes in the transferring of strands, itmay be necessary totie two ends together in the form of a knot; or in other cases bumps or knobs are present in the flexible strands for other reasons. Many of the prior devices are equipped with means to prevent the passage of knot-containing strands or strands containingextra heavy quantities of fibers which are operable in response to the contact of such knots or the extraquantities of fibers to stop automatically the machine. Obviously, such stopping of the machine represents an expensive and often unnecessary operation. Hence, there is a need in the art for the provision of an apparatus satisfactorily adapted to feed and to plait strands having bulges, lumps, knots, or the like along the lengths without the need for stopping the apparatus and thereby to effect a reduction in the cost of transferring such strands;

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for the longitudinal feeding of flexible strands of indefinite lengths and for plaiting same uniformly in a container therefor, such apparatus overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art devices. It is another objectof the present invention to provide an apparatus that will longitudinally feed flexible strands of indefinite lengths containing bulges, lumps, knobs, knots, or the like along their lengths and will lay same uniformly in a container therefor in juxtaposed and superimposed plaits or folds. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for longitudinal feeding flexible strands of indefinite lengths by means of two endless belts hav-- ing resilient nipping areas whereby the strands are not unduly flattened or disarranged. It is a specific object of the present invention to provide an apparatus adapted for longitudinally feeding relatively narrow and flexible strands of indefinite lengths containing bulges or protruding portions along their lengths by means of two endless belts or the :like adapted for contra-directional rotation and in contiguous relation during part of their travel and for laying same uniformly in a container therefor in juxtaposed and superimposed plaits or folds. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear and be apparent, at least in part, from the accompanying drawing and the description of the invention hereinafter related.

In general, the objects of the present invention will be accomplished by employing an electrically powered apparatus adapted to feed longitudinally and to plait a flexible strand in a container therefor comprising plural belts or the like rotatable in opposite directions and in contiguous relation. The belts are entrained on rotary members adapted to 'be urged resiliently together so that the apparatus is constructed to receive and to feed conveniently flexible strands having bulging or protruding por-.

tions along their lengths. Means are provided for imparting oscillatory motion to the delivery end of the apparatus. Furthermore, the rotary members carrying said belts are movable axially back and forth in unison between predetermined points simultaneously with the oscillation of the apparatus, whereby the strands fed by the apparatus are laid in juxtaposed and superimposed plaits or folds in a container therefor. The delivery speed, the oscillatory motion, and the axial movement of the rotary members are in timed relation and are correlated so that proper package formation results in the container.

In order that the following detailed description of the present invention may be understood clearly, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, it being understood that this is in no way intended in a limitative sense.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the apparatus of the present invention including the rotary members carrying the conveying belts paratus of the present invention, including its operational mechanism for axially reciprocating the rotary members within predetermined limits.

In these figures like parts are designated by like numerals as is understood.

With reference to the drawing and more particularly to FIGURE 1, the feeding and plaiting apparatus shown comprises two endless belts, bands, webs or the like 10 and 11 that are mounted in contiguous relation, to form a gripping zone along some length during their travel, the

direction of the travel of the belts being contra-directional Patented June 6, 1961 so that delivery is made in a generally vertical downward direction. For best results the belts are preferably run at approximately the same linear speed. Belt is carried on rotary members or rollers 12 and 13. Similarly, belt- 11 is carried on rotary members or rollers 14 and 15. Rollers 12 and 14 are rotatably mounted on shafts 16 and 17 respectively and form the feeding rolls for receiving and causing the belts 10 and 11 to grip the strand 18 being transferred and plaited in a uniform manner in a container. Shaft 16 is mounted to be slidable laterally so that the pressure at which the belts engage each other at the point of closest contact of the rollers 12 and 14 is adjusable. To accomplish this, shaft *16 is resiliently mounted in casing 20 which has outer grooves adapted to follow tracks 21 of support bracket 22 for vertical travel therea-long. Fixed to the outer side of bracket 22 is a collar 23 which limits the axial movement of compression spring or coil 24 surrounding a portion of cylindrical rod 25. This rod is mounted to bracket 22 in threaded relation therewith. Shaft 17 is mounted in a journal box-support 26 and is positively driven by a suitable source, with rotary motion thereof being imparted to roller 14. As can be seen, this arrangement of coil 24 tends to urge roller 12 and its associated parts away from engagement with roller 14, the nipping force of the belt surfaces between rollers 12 and 14 being automatically adjustable due to this resilient mounting of roller 12. Hence, the feeding rolls 12 and 14 are adapted satisfactorily to receive and feed strand 18 which may contain knots and the like.

An elongated housing 27 surrounds most of the path taken bythe belts. This housing, box-support 26 and bracket 22 are arranged to form a rigid construction. At the lower end of the housing a mounting plate 28 is fixedly secured thereto and provides means for rotatably mounting shaft 29 of roller 13. As can be seen, roller 1'3 is stationary in relation to the housing 27 whereas roller 12 which defines with roller 13 the path taken by belt 10 is movable. A bolt or the like 30 is in threaded relation with block 31 secured to the side of plate 28. A compression spring or coil 32 surrounds part of bolt 30. At the lower end of housing 27 a lever 33 is mounted to be pivotal about point 34. Shaft 35 carrying roller 15 is journaled in one end of this lever; at the other end of the lever a vertical hole is provided to permit free passage of bolt 30 therethrough but not the spring 32. Hence, when a knot in strand 18 passes between the nip formed by rollers 13 and 15, the latter roller will pivot away from the former so as to permit passage of the knot therebetween.

After the knot has passed these rollers, roller 15 will re-' turn to its normal gripping position due to the upward force of spring 32 on lever 33.

Idler roll 36 is horizontally adjustable to control the tautness of belt 11 as it travels between and around rollers '14 and 15. This adjustment is made possible by themounting of roll 36 on shaft 37 that extends through the slot in housing 27 so that the shaft is carried by rod 38 adapted to adjust the horizontal travel of shaft 37 along said slot.

Secured to the top of bracket 22 is a plate 40 which extends outwardly therefrom to provide suitable connection at its extended end with a rocker arm 41. At its lower end arm 41 is attached to a bearing 42 that is secured to a chain 43. This chain is driven by its associated sprocket 44 powered by an electric motor or other suitable driving means 45. Idler roll 46 rotatably mounted on support 46a is adapted to receive chain 43 and to define with it the path followed by the chain 43 and the bearing 42. Preferably, sprocket 44 and roll 46 are rotatably mounted in vertical spaced relation, as shown, with the chain traveling along an oval path. In such arrangement quick reversal is obtained at each end of the oscillatory motion of the apparatus, thereby resulting in an improvement of the strand lay pattern.

The feeding assembly which comprises the rollers 12.-i5, belts 10 and 11, and their associated parts is pivotal about shaft 17. Hence, when the end of arm 41 follows the travel of the chain 43, the assembly will be rocked back and forth and the delivery end of the assembly will oscillate as indicated by the arrows so that the strand 18 will be laid in the container 47 in the form of uniform folds or plaits as shown. Motor 45, if desired; can be used also to rotate shaft 17. It will be appreciated, however, that separate means may be used to drive shaft 17. As shown, a driving belt 48 interconnectssaid shaft and motor 45 so that upon rotation of the motor shaft 17 is rotated.

Motor 45 is mounted on a cross brace 49 of open box framing 50 that surrounds part of the feeding assembly. This framing supports shaft 17 and is mounted on wheels 51, whereby the frame is movable in the direction axial of the rollers 1215. The wheels 51 engage track or plate 52 secured to support member 53 which in turn is supported in a suitable manner. A worm 54 rotated by a suitable source not shown in FIGURE 1 meshes with worm gear 55 keyed to drive shaft 56, this shaft being rotatably mounted in journal box-supports 57 secured to the bottom of box framing 50. On the bottom of track 52 is a rack 58 meshable with pinions 60 keyed to shaft 56. Hence, box framing 50 derives rectilinear motion by the circular motion of gear 54 through the gearing as just described.

Reference in particular will now be made to FIGURE 2 wherein the reciprocation of box framing 50 carrying the oscillatably mounted feeding assembly will be described. Mounted to a side of box-framing 50 is a trip dog 61. When the dog alternatively strikes levers 62 of switch boxes 63 attached to said supporting member 53, the direction of rotation of the electrical reversible motor 64 is caused to reverse. As can be seen, this motor is operably connected with boxes 63 for reversal of rotation when levers 62 are tripped. Keyed to the shaft of motor 64 is pulley 65 on which is entrained belt 66 which drives pulley 67. This pulley is keyed to the worm shaft 54. Rotary movement of shaft 54 causes box-framing 50 to move linearly in one direction as described more fully above. Upon reversal of motor 64 the framing 50 will move in the opposite direction. Hence, arrangement is made so that the framing '50 and the parts supported therefrom are reciprocated between predetermined points. As can be seen, the strand '18 is laid in juxtaposed and superimposed relation by the combination of the reciprocation of the framing and the oscillation of the feeding assembly.

As shown, shaft 17 of driven roller 14 is mounted on supports 68' and is suitably driven by means such as a pulley 69 interconnected with motor 45 by belt 48. The rotary motion of roller 14 causes belt 11 to move about it. Since belt 10 is in contact with belt 11 it too is driven when roller 14 is rotated by a suitable source. Shaft 17 rotatably supporting roller 14 also is the pivot point of the feeding belt assembly with means being provided to oscillate the feed assembly about this point. Furthermore, means are provided for axially moving this assembly back and forth between predetermined points. Hence, when a flexible strand such as a tow of filamentary material is led through guide 70 and into the nip formed by the rollers 12 and 14, together with the belts 10 and 11, it is fed downwardly between the belts and drops after passing between rollers 13 and 15 and into container 47 into a predetermined pattern such that the strand can be easily removed therefrom when it is desired to transfer the strand by'feeding same longitudinally therefrom.

Belts used in the apparatus of this invention can be of any suitable construction.

rubber covering both sides. Usually a belt of 12 inches width and 10 feet in length is'satisfactory. However, it will beappreciated that the belt material and dimensions will be a matter ofchoice, depending to some extent on the flexible material being fed and plaited. The

For example, they may be: made of fabric, leather, or preferably fabric core with rollers carrying the belts may be of any suitable diameter; however, for most purposes feeding rollers having a diameter of inches are satisfactory. The delivery rollers disposed-below may have a diameter of 2 inches and preferably are smaller in diameter than the feeding rollers. Only one of the feeding rollers is driven as shown, but it will be understood that other rollers may be driven. whose axis the axes of the other rollers oscillate is preferably the only one positively driven.

For example, with the present apparatus a tow of continuous filaments having a denier of 200,000-500,000 can be fed into and plaited efliciently in a tow package designed to contain about 300 pounds of material witha belt speed of 200-900 feet per minute in a relatively short period of time.

The present invention has numerous advantages one of which may be mentioned is that with the apparatus of the present invention it is possible to feed strands into a container in-a convenient manner event through the strands have irregular surface dimensions. The two pairs of rollers 'are' resiliently urged together for accomplishing this Higher packaging speeds are possible by the ,employment of the present apparatus. The package formation of the strands is more uniform. There is less difference between the strand levels at the sides of the container and the center thereof when the present apparatus is used as compared with existing equipment. Furthermore, less disarrangement to the fed strand is experienced as compared to the known devices having unyieldable nips. The rate of oscillation and the rate of reciprocation, as well as the delivery rate of the strands, can be correlated easily in a controlled timed relation with each other. Other advantages of the present invention will be apparent.

While the present invention has been described in terms of its preferred embodiment, certain modifications and equivalents will be apparent and are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention which is to be limited only by the reasonable scope of the appended claims. For example, other means may be provided for reciprocating the container instead of moving the complete feed assembly back and forth as shown. Similarly, while an electro-mechanical means is shown for reciprocating the feeding assembly, well-known purely mechanical devices likewise may be employed.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for longitudinal feeding and plaiting a flexible strand having an indefinite length and irregular surface dimensions along its length comprising two endless belts rotatable in contra-directional and contiguous relation at substantially equal speeds for forwarding said strand therebetween in a generally vertical downward direction by surface engagement therewith, a first and a second pair of rotary members for carrying said belts on the peripheries thereof, one of said first pair of rotary members being mounted to be yieldable with respect to its associated nip forming rotary member, the rotary member of said second pair of rotary members on the opposite side of the surface engagement of said belt with respect to the yieldable mounted rotary member of the first pair of rotary members being mounted to be yieldable with respect to its associated nip forming rotary member, and means for oscillating the apparatus so that the strands after being passed between said belts are laid in plaits.

2. Apparatus for longitudinal feeding and plaiting a flexible strand having an indefinite length and irregular surface dimensions along its length comprising two endless belts rotatably mounted in contra-directional and contiguous relation at substantially equal speeds for forwarding said strand therebetween in a generally vertical downward direction by surface engagement therewith, a

first pair of rotatably mounted feed rollers for carrying different belts on the peripheries thereof and adapted to However, for convenience the roller about receive said strand'between the nip formed thereby and to forward same between said belts, one of said first pair, of rollers mounted to be slidable laterally and resiliently;

ripheries thereof and adapted to deliver said strand from;

the nip formed thereby for a free-flight downward to a container therefor, the roller of said second pair of rollers on the opposite side of the surface engagement of said belts with respect to the slidably mounted roller of the,

first pair of rollers being mounted to be resiliently urged toward engagement with its associated nip-forming roller, and means for imparting oscillatory motion to the ap paratus so that the delivered strands are laid in. plaits: in-

said container.

3. Apparatus for longitudinal feeding and plaiting. a.

flexible strand having an indefinite length and irregular surface dimensions along its length comprising two endless belts rotatably mounted in contra-directional and contiguous relation at equal speeds for forwarding said strand therebetween in a generally vertical "downward direction by. surface engagement therewith, a'first pair of rotatably mounted feed rollers for carrying different belts on the peripheries thereof and adapted to receive said strand between the nip formed thereby and to forward same between said belts, one of said first pair of rollers being mounted to be slidable laterally and resiliently urged away from engagement with the other roller which is positively driven, a second pair of rotatably mounted rollers for carrying different belts on the peripheries thereof and adapted to deliver said strand from the nip formed thereby for a free-flight downward to a container therefor, the roller of said second pair of rollers on the opposite side of the surface engagement of said belts with respect to the slidably mounted roller of the first pair of rollers being pivotal away from but spring urged toward engagement with its associated nip-forming roller, and means for imparting oscillatory motion to the apparatus so that the delivered strands are laid in plaits in said container.

4. Apparatus for longitudinal feeding and plaiting a flexible strand having an indefinite length and irregular surface dimensions along its length comprising two endless belts rotatably mounted in contra-directional and contiguous relation at substantially equal speeds for forwarding said strand therebetween in a generally vertical downward direction by surface engagement therewith, an elongated housing surrounding said belts, a first pair of feed rollers rotatably mounted near the top of said housing for carrying different belts on the peripheries thereof and adapted to receive said strand between the nip for-med thereby and to forward same between said belts, one of said first pair of rollers being axially positioned above the other roller and mounted to be slidable laterally, a spring to tend to press the slidably mounted roller away from engagement with the other roller which is positively driven, a second pair of rollers rotatably mounted near the bottom of said housing for carrying different belts on the peripheries thereof and adapted to deliver said strand from the nip formed thereby for a free-flight downward to a container therefor, the roller of said second pair of rollers on the opposite side of the surface engagement of said belts with respect to the slidably mounted roller of the first pair of rollers having a pivotal connection with downward direction by surface engagement therewith, an-

elongated housing surrounding said belts, a first pair of feed rollers'rotatably mounted near the top of said housing for carrying difierent belts on the peripheries thereof and adapted to receive saidstrand between the nip formed thereby and to forward same between said belts, one of said pair of rollers being axially positioned above the other'roller' and mounted to be slidable laterally; a spring to tend to press the slidably mounted roller away from engagement with the other roller which is positively driven, a second pair of rollers rotatably mounted near the bottom of said housing for carrying different belts on the peripheries thereof and adapted to deliver said strand from the nip formed thereby for a free-flight downward to a container therefor, the roller of said second pair of rollers on the opposite side of the surface engagement of said belts with respect to the slidably mounted roller of the first pair of rollers having a pivotal connection with the'housing and being spring urged toward engagement withits associated nip-forming roller, said housing beingoscillatably mounted on the shaft of the driven roller of said 'first pair of rollers, said shaft being mounted to a reciprocatable framing, means for imparting oscillatory motion to the housing, and means for horizontally reciprocating said framing between predetermined points on a track' on which said framing is supported for movement, whereby the delivered strands are laid in juxtaposed and superimposed plaits in said container.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which both the driven roller and the means for imparting oscillatory motion are driven by the same driving means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,665,453 Senior et a1 "Jan. 12, 1954 2,680,899 Sebok June 15, 1954 2,710,992 Goldman June 21, 1955 2,737,691 Senior et a1 Mar. 13, 1956 2,833,394 Cordis May 6, 1958 

